Making Honkai Impact lll In A World Where Kallen Exists [Continuation]

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"Are you sure she doesn't have some unspeakable motive, Boss~?"

Kiana shot a suspicious glance at Luo Mo, her tone carrying a sinister edge.

Elysia's intentions were clear as day to any bystander!

She must be trying to steal her Mei.

Wasn't that an ulterior motive?

"Who knows? It depends on how you view it. But to me, Elysia is trustworthy," Luo Mo said after a brief moment of thought.

As always, he placed his faith in her, just as he had when he ventured into the Elysian Realm, staking nearly everything on that meeting. And in the end, his trust wasn't misplaced.

As Elysia's foremost disciple, his loyalty to her was steadfast and unwavering, as evident as his devotion to wielding Theresa-sama's blade with unyielding resolve.

"Ah, fine. Since you're saying this, Boss, I'll believe her," Kiana said, though her tone suggested she still had doubts.

While she was prone to being unreliable in minor matters, when it came to critical moments, her boss always managed to handle them flawlessly.

She glanced at Luo Mo. His calm eyes radiated a lazy warmth and a subtle smile, as if he had anticipated this very moment for a long time.

Still, when it came to certain issues, he seemed uninterested in intervening or getting involved, almost as if he were an outsider.

But when it came to Luna and Kongming, he was notably attentive...

It confirmed her suspicion, he must be a lolicon.

Kiana quickly reached this conclusion, though the leap from her earlier careful reasoning to this rash judgment was rather abrupt.

"Why does Kiana always seem to dislike me?"

Elysia's expression turned pitiable as she leaned closer to Kiana, tugging at her sleeve. Of course, she had overheard the earlier conversation.

Her sincere, pleading gaze made Kiana uncomfortable, prompting her to turn her head slightly.

"Maybe it's because you're too enthusiastic. You might've learned a lot about Kiana in the game, but in reality, you haven't spent much time together," Luo Mo said teasingly, casting a sidelong glance at Elysia. Her intense enthusiasm was, frankly, a bit overwhelming.

"So you're saying I'm confusing the game with reality? But I'm not~," Elysia replied with a light laugh, her eyes bright and unbothered, looking straight at Luo Mo.

"Maybe the one who's confused about the boundary between reality and the game isn't me~."

Her words carried an underlying meaning that made Luo Mo pause mid-response. Then, he noticed her gentle, unmoving expression, which momentarily left him at a loss.

Was she... referring to him?

"Luo Mo, is this a game to you, or is it life itself?"

Elysia turned back to look at Luo Mo, the thought flashing in her mind before quickly fading away.

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"I feel like I've been misunderstood more often lately."

Beneath the warm glow of the lights, Elysia tapped her cheek with her finger, her tone filled with exasperation as she complained to her friend Eden.

Could it be that she had done something wrong recently?

"Did you tease Miss Mei again, Ellie?"

"I couldn't help it. I like her, after all."

A girl's feelings burned so fiercely, so plainly, they almost seemed like a lie.

Elysia spread her hands, interlocking her fingers, a radiant smile spreading across her face as her eyes sparkled with unrestrained delight.

Beside her, Eden sighed, her expression one of exasperated indulgence.

Her fingers traced the edge of a golden goblet, leaving faint imprints as she took a sip of her fine drink. She spoke softly,

"And that's exactly why she misunderstands you, Ellie."

"You always express your feelings so openly, saying whatever is on your mind without any reservations... Sometimes, that can make people uncomfortable."

"You have to understand, most people can't be as honest as you."

Eden referred to it as honesty.

For her dear friend in front of her, Elysia's sincerity was truly praiseworthy. She was someone who could present her true self without reserve, even in front of others. Yet, the world rarely rewards authenticity.

Such behavior… often led others to believe she had ulterior motives.

But in truth, Elysia's actions always stemmed from her genuine thoughts, this was precisely why she admired her so much.

(TL/C: same! I had the same doubts (not trusting) for her too, until I learned about her story. Just like Mei)

She always claimed to be the brightest star of her previous civilization. Yet, in her heart, Elysia  was the one who truly shone the brightest. From her pure, flawless soul to every step she took and every decision she made, she radiated brilliance.

(TL: totally agree. Nod Nod)

As she gazed at her, those bright eyes reminded her of clouds in the sky and stars at night.

"Elysia …" she murmured softly, watching as the other's gaze focused on a single point.

"...How about a change of mood? I found a necklace that suits you perfectly and wanted to gift it to you."

"My dear Eden, I knew it—you always know how to soothe my wounded heart~"

Elysia's eyes lit up as she pounced forward, giving Eden a hug.

Eden always provided the best comfort during her moments of melancholy.

"That's precisely why I like you so much."

"And I like how honest you always are, Elysia."

Eden lifted her wine glass, her smile gentle.

For Eden, seeing Elysia live a carefree, joyful life was enough.

Sigh… You might think this feels like an adult watching over a child, but this was what Elysia deserved.

(TL: again, totally agree. Sigh... I wish I was a girl, so that I can go crazy simp on Elysia and even hugging her like my best girl in warmth)

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Meanwhile, Luo Mo was left deep in thought. Elysia, however, didn't rush to offer advice. There was always a faint sense of distance about him, something that perhaps Kiana, Senti, and she herself could break through, but not everyone else could.

Or rather, knowing certain people too early might actually make him less likely to approach them.

A close relationship, built on trust… yet still unable to bridge that final gap into his heart.

It was a contradictory mindset, and she couldn't help but wonder why.

Of course, Griseo and Theresa were exceptions, children are always special.

As for the story…

"As expected of my Eden," Elysia remarked, satisfied as she plopped down on the sofa and grabbed a throw pillow to hug.

Hmm, it was the Homu design.

A bit of a pity, it wasn't one with Theresa's image.

"Haha—Eden, Eden, why don't you hurry up and go find your own Eden?"

Mobius sneered, sounding annoyed at their constant chatter.

"Hmm~ Then… my dear Mobius?"

"Hmph—even more annoying!"

Mobius responded with a blank expression, as though reciting from a script.

"Honest… huh? So, does that mean Elysia's words are at least mostly true?" Mei pondered, analyzing the meaning behind Elysia's words bit by bit.

There was no doubt Eden was a good friend to Elysia. While her words might have a hint of bias, Eden wasn't the type to exaggerate or flatter.

In that case, Elysia did seem to fit the definition of being honest.

But still…

Mei rubbed her head, recalling everything Elysia had said earlier. To be honest, she didn't feel like Elysia  was the honest type at all.

(TL/C: Totally understand. I too felt the same at first)

"Ah? Mei…"

Bronya was still lost in her thoughts about Mei, unable to snap out of it.

This version of events was truly overwhelming for Bronya.

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Nearby, Mobius silently observed the interactions. As for the heartfelt exchanges between the two girls? Mobius's stance was clear, she had no interest at all.

"Mobius, your ears are practically glued to us—"

Elysia's voice rang out as she stared at Mobius, who had unknowingly leaned in closer. So, she was here as well?

What a rare guest.

Though, from Mei's words, she seemed to have learned some intriguing things, such as certain points about Mobius's existence in reality.

"It seems you accompanied me to the very end, dear Dr. Mobius~"

Elysia's pointed ears twitched as she looked at Mobius, who sat nearby, eavesdropping with a broad smile.

Of course, she admitted her earlier remark had been slightly exaggerated, but there was no denying Mobius had been listening in.

"Don't use such nauseating terms, Elysia. The last time I synchronized memories, you had just died, so the memory is particularly vivid. What, curious about how it all ended?"

Mobius snorted coldly, staring at her. "Accompanying you to the end"—did she want to know what she looked like before her death?

And had her eavesdropping been that obvious just now?

"For things like that, you'd better ask Eden~ Only she can depict my downfall as something as delicate and pitiful as a falling flower, both sorrowful and beautifully moving."

Elysia wasn't surprised by Mobius's sarcasm. She'd long grown accustomed to it.

Mobius always acted tough on the outside but was soft at heart. Truly, not honest at all!

"Oh? From what I recall, neither of those words fit your ending… traitor ."

Mobius smirked coldly.

In the end… abandoning everyone else to escape alone, what kind of behavior was that?

Pitiful? Beautifully moving? Hmph, neither described it. She hadn't even seen Elysia's final moments.

"Alright, alright, spoilers aren't nice… Why don't we talk about your ending, Mobius?"

"...Elysia , your skill at diverting topics has significantly declined. You know, I am an immortal. That is my ability."

Her gaze grew colder, as if she were steadfastly asserting an undeniable truth.

A serpent does not meet its end.

"But… it's not absolute, is it? You can't make a definitive judgment about something before it happens."

"…What are you trying to say?"

Mobius once again felt a hint of something unexpected unfolding, and within her, an unsettling suspicion began to form.

"Dear Mobius, why is it that the version of you left behind in the Elysian Realm… doesn't have complete memories?"

Elysia's question was accompanied by an inscrutable smile.

"…"

Mobius couldn't refute it.

She found herself caught in a web of confusion.

Still, she firmly believed, she had never strayed from the path she chose from the very beginning.

--

Meanwhile, another rumor sparked even greater curiosity.

"Kalpas, Kalpas, I've been wanting to ask you something for a long time."

"What?"

"It's about that rumor mentioned before. You know, the one that says… Mobius is your illegitimate daughter."

(TL: pfffffffft! Cough.... just did a quick search and found out that all these weird, random conversations are actually moments between flame chasers chatting)

Elysia stared at him with a look of intense curiosity, as if she wanted to poke at him. Her overabundant curiosity was written all over her face, she was so curious!

"…"

The absurdity of the topic left even the perpetually fiery Kalpas silent and at a loss for words.

"Oh, I'm not saying I believe it! After all, her age is almost enough to make her your mo—uh, wait, Mobius isn't nearby, right?"

Elysia glanced around as if making sure Mobius wasn't in the vicinity.

Kalpas silently watched her, struggling to comprehend why such an outlandish rumor would even exist.

Seeing her flustered actions, he let out a cold laugh, taking the opportunity to mock his nemesis.

"Hah, maybe she's right under your nose. She's just too short for you to notice."

"Kalpas, you're such a jokester. So, what's the truth behind the rumor?"

"…"

He still remained silent, his masked face turning in her direction.

"No matter how fiercely you glare at me, I won't back down," Elysia declared, adding a hint of mischief at the end.

She had been curious about this rumor for so long!

"This time, I won't let you go until you tell me. Come on, tell me! Pretty please?"

"...Sigh."

A helpless sigh escaped his lips.

Kalpas had to admit, it was impossible for anyone to deal with this noisy pink-haired girl, especially given her overwhelming strength.

Physical force couldn't solve the problem, and he suddenly understood Kevin's feeling of powerlessness.

The kind of feeling where no matter what you did, you just couldn't get rid of someone endlessly chirping questions at your side.

"That woman did come to see me."

He finally admitted.

"Oh! What did she want?"

"What else could it be? Her endless research on immortality."

"and then?"

"I told her to get lost."

"Oh! That's so on-brand for you. But Mobius? She wouldn't give up so easily."

"Of course. She refused to leave and even started saying some…"

Kalpas's voice trailed off, and everyone understood why he stopped.

The venomous words of the serpent were truly something else. Otherwise, her relationship with Kalpas wouldn't be so... fiery.

"Mm-hmm! And then?"

"Then I made a move."

His tone was calm, as if he were simply recounting what he had for breakfast.

"Wait, what? Made a move? Hold on, what do you mean by 'made a move'?"

(TL/C: it's not what you guys think)

Elysia's eyes widened in shock as she stared at him.

"If she weren't a fusion warrior, there wouldn't even be ashes left."

"...Ah, I think I understand now. You're truly ruthless with your colleagues, Kalpas," Elysia commented, slightly relieved that things hadn't spiraled into something bizarre.

The relationships among the Thirteen Flame-Chasers always seemed to involve inexplicable chaos.

Still, the truth of the matter gradually became clear.

"So, the rumor about someone confidently claiming to have seen a little girl who looked just like Mobius happily walking out of your room… was actually…"

Elysia covered her mouth in surprise. Was that really the case?

"Exactly as you think," Kalpas replied.

He admitted to Elysia's assumptions, effectively debunking the rumors.

"An unexpected result, yet… it makes sense?"

"She wanted to see how far her rebirth had progressed. The results… clearly left her very satisfied."

"Mm-hmm~"

Having obtained the answer she sought, Elysia left Kalpas's side, visibly satisfied.

The harvest from this trip was quite fruitful, after all, it was about her dear Mobius!

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[Suddenly experiencing brain freeze… Who? Mobius? Kalpas? Illegitimate daughter?]

[Molting, Rebirth, huh—why do I feel this strange sense of disappointment?]

[As expected, Brother Kalpas really did make a move. Unlike the other Flame-Chasers, he doesn't hold back... Mobius is bold and confident too.]

[Incomplete memories? Could it be because the Mobius in the Elysian Realm killed the real Mobius in the end?]

"Oh~ So that's the result? To be honest, this is the first time I've heard the truth about that rumor involving Kalpas," Elysia said, her eyes glinting with interest.

Her gaze shifted back and forth between Mobius and Luo Mo, as if debating who to question first.

"Clearly, fragmented storylines would use AI voiceovers… After all, we need to limit how often rage scenes occur—too many, and it's bad for your health," Luo Mo commented with a heavy tone.

...